As numerous as the stars!

Have you ever sat outside and tried to count the stars. I have done this with my children on a few occasions. When do they give up? I know my kids always give up after I do. I think I hit 15 and am ready to finish with a "yada, yada, yada." My kids would hit at least a hundred, perhaps finishing with a "ninety-niiiiiine, a hundred!"

I have been reading in 1Chronicles recently. A lot of it is genealogical lists. My first reaction- snooze! I read in a Bible Study by Kelly Minter that perhaps these genealogical lists are there to remind us that these were real people, with names and loved ones, gifts and flaws.

At chapter 21, it says that Satan rose up against the Israelites, and this caused David to take a census. Satan rose up- he increased his efforts against Israel. He worked harder to discourage, instill doubt, increase fear. And you know what, David fell for it. He needs some assurance, so he counted his assets.

God is not pleased with this census. He gives David a choice of punishment- 3 years of famine, 3 months of losing to the enemy, or 3 days of a plague dispensed by an angel. David chose the plague, knowing he had a greater chance of mercy with God than with his enemies!

Skip ahead a few chapters to 1 Chronicles 27. Once again, the number of warriors is counted. However, David learned his lesson it says,
"23 When David took his census, he did not count those who were younger than twenty years of age, because the Lord had promised to make the Israelites as numerous as the stars in heaven." (NLT)

I didn't understand what the big deal was about counting his people. i mean, isn't smart to know what you have, to know where you stand?

1 Chronicles 27:23 cleared it up for me. David didn't count his warriors because he wanted to just have the information. He counted out of fear. He counted because he didn't trust the promise God gave Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David himself! He believed the lies of Satan- Israel can't win. Israel will die out. You will be the king that kills off God's chosen people. The buck stops with you, David.

You see, we can do seemingly responsible acts, but God looks at our motive, at our heart. Tithing is responsible. Giving beyond is even more noble. But, what good is the giving if it causes us to grumble against the Lord, and draws us further away from his heart. What is the point of serving in the nursery, if it makes you dread going to church- a place that should be encouraging, uplifting, and feeding your soul?

All David had to do when he first took the census was turn back a few pages, check out chapter 16 and re-remind himself of all that God has brought David through.

Take a moment to write down all the things God has brought you through. Let those become the tape that continually plays through your mind so that when Satan tries to bait you with a lie, you can come back with the truth of God's mighty acts of love, for they are as numerous as the stars. Let that be the census you take.